C02 coming strong, how often to test?

[Dave M. Picklyk]

I started my C02 DIY last night, now I'm getting from 35-40 bubbles a
minute. The water has about 19ppm C02 right now. How often do I test for C02
levels? Every day? Every few days? The KH tester kit requires me to use
about 11 drops per test!---I don't want to buy 15 test kits :)

I'm noticing "pearling" (that the right word?) of the oxygen under the
leaves... so I'm really happy. I can't believe it happens that fast! I just
need some stem plants now as all I have is Java fern and Anubias nana. (most
of our lfs sux for plants)

Thanx for your inputs!
Dave.

[Dave]

"Dave M. Picklyk" > empowered us with this mighty blow
against the Patriarchy:

> I started my C02 DIY last night, now I'm getting from 35-40 bubbles a
> minute. The water has about 19ppm C02 right now. How often do I test
> for C02 levels? Every day? Every few days? The KH tester kit requires
> me to use about 11 drops per test!---I don't want to buy 15 test kits

Personally I don't bother testing KH, I just test pH to make sure it stays
within the right range (more important to the health of the fish). Your KH
shouldn't increase over time, so as long as your pH is at the right level,
you know you're not injecting too much CO2 (bad for the fish). When my pH
starts increasing, I know that it's time to change my CO2 mix (usually
after about two weeks). Your plants won't suffer from a temporary drop in
CO2.

> I'm noticing "pearling" (that the right word?) of the oxygen under the
> leaves... so I'm really happy.

Cool! Isn't it great when that happens? :-)

[Dave M. Picklyk]

Right now I'm have about 26ppm of C02 (that's if I the ph is 7.1..which I'm
pretty positive because the color is a little too dark for 7.0 yet...if it
is indead 7.0 then I have 33ppm which is high?)

I don't want to harm my fish, what if the CO2 continues to raise higher?
What can I do? Take the hose outa the water??

"Dave" > wrote in message
...
> "Dave M. Picklyk" > empowered us with this mighty blow
> against the Patriarchy:
>
> > I started my C02 DIY last night, now I'm getting from 35-40 bubbles a
> > minute. The water has about 19ppm C02 right now. How often do I test
> > for C02 levels? Every day? Every few days? The KH tester kit requires
> > me to use about 11 drops per test!---I don't want to buy 15 test kits
>
> Personally I don't bother testing KH, I just test pH to make sure it stays
> within the right range (more important to the health of the fish). Your
KH
> shouldn't increase over time, so as long as your pH is at the right level,
> you know you're not injecting too much CO2 (bad for the fish). When my pH
> starts increasing, I know that it's time to change my CO2 mix (usually
> after about two weeks). Your plants won't suffer from a temporary drop in
> CO2.
>
> > I'm noticing "pearling" (that the right word?) of the oxygen under the
> > leaves... so I'm really happy.
>
> Cool! Isn't it great when that happens? :-)
>

[Dave]

You can either reduce the amount of CO2 you're generating (smaller mix
bottles), or increase surface turbulence with an airstone, bubble wand etc.

BTW, many people have an airpump connected to a timer which turns it on at
night, to drive off CO2 when the plants aren't consuming it via
photosynthesis.

I have a Pinpoint pH controller which I was intending to use with a CO2
tank system, but right now I'm using it with my DIY CO2. It turns on an
airpump when the pH gets too low (too much CO2).

"Dave M. Picklyk" > empowered us with this mighty blow
against the Patriarchy:

> Right now I'm have about 26ppm of C02 (that's if I the ph is
> 7.1..which I'm pretty positive because the color is a little too dark
> for 7.0 yet...if it is indead 7.0 then I have 33ppm which is high?)
>
> I don't want to harm my fish, what if the CO2 continues to raise
> higher? What can I do? Take the hose outa the water??
>
> "Dave" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Dave M. Picklyk" > empowered us with this mighty
>> blow against the Patriarchy:
>>
>> > I started my C02 DIY last night, now I'm getting from 35-40 bubbles
>> > a minute. The water has about 19ppm C02 right now. How often do I
>> > test for C02 levels? Every day? Every few days? The KH tester kit
>> > requires me to use about 11 drops per test!---I don't want to buy
>> > 15 test kits
>>
>> Personally I don't bother testing KH, I just test pH to make sure it
>> stays within the right range (more important to the health of the
>> fish). Your
> KH
>> shouldn't increase over time, so as long as your pH is at the right
>> level, you know you're not injecting too much CO2 (bad for the fish).
>> When my pH starts increasing, I know that it's time to change my CO2
>> mix (usually after about two weeks). Your plants won't suffer from a
>> temporary drop in CO2.
>>
>> > I'm noticing "pearling" (that the right word?) of the oxygen under
>> > the leaves... so I'm really happy.
>>
>> Cool! Isn't it great when that happens? :-)
>>
>
>
>